With EHF Champions League round 4 matches scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, the time has come for our weekly CL preview. Four out of five of our SEHA representatives in the competition will get out there this time with the encounter between Motor and Kiel being postponed. Let’s get started!

(Group A) Vardar 1961 – Flensburg

After missing two matches in a row, the time has finally come for reigning CL champs to get out there and fight against some of the best in Europe. On Thursday they will host German Flensburg, current leaders of group A with three victories and +9 goal difference three rounds into the competition. In what will, without doubt, be a tough match against favored German side coach Alushovski and his guys will once again look to prove everyone they are capable of delivering high-quality performances even against stronger teams. In the only match they’ve played so far in the competition they were in Belarus with 24:22 defeated against Meshkov Brest which means they will surely do whatever they can to secure first group stage points.

(Group A) Lomza Vive Kielce – Meshkov Brest

After a stunning home win over highly-favored PSG squad in the last round Meshkov Brest will on Wednesday in Poland meet Kielce looking to improve their score to 3-1 making yet another statement about how good they really are this season. Coach Alonso and his guys already in Zadar proved they will be a tough opponent to deal with for anyone and they are showing that from round to round in Europe’s elite handball competition. In what will be a real derby of group A, with both teams entering the match with two victories and one loss, Meshkov will look to come out on top against Polish champions led on court by one of the legends of SEHA – Gazprom League Igor Karacic. Definitely make sure not to miss this one.

(Group B) Telekom Veszprem – Celje PL

Telekom Veszprem are one of only four undefeated teams three rounds into the EHF Champions League season along with Barca, Aalborg and Flensburg. Coach Davis and his guys will do everything they can to prolong the streak on Wednesday evening at home hosting Slovenian Celje PL who are 0-3 so far. Veszprem have a favorite role ahead of this one but they’ll have to prove it out there on the court against young and highly-motivated Celje PL team. After three CL rounds Veszprem have second-best offense scoring 102 goals – only five less than Barca, which is something they’ll surely look to build on against Celje as well.

(Group B) Barca – PPD Zagreb

PPD Zagreb will on Wednesday evening look for first points away from home against Barca. Hosts are huge favorites in this one having the best offense of the competition so far scoring 107 goals. PPD Zagreb on the other hand, out of all the teams that have three matches behind them already, have the worst offense scoring only 72 goals while allowing 95 which is more than 31 per match and is something new coach Vlado Sola will have to take real good care of as soon as possible in order to get everything to work the right way. It will be interesting to see coach Sola out there having his debut as PPD Zagreb head coach against one of the strongest teams in Europe at the moment.  

EHFCL Round 4 schedule for SEHA – Gazprom League teams:

Wednesday (18.45 CET) Lomza Vive Kielce – Meshkov Brest

Wednesday (18.45 CET) Telekom Veszprem – Celje PL

Wednesday (20.45 CET) Barca – PPD Zagreb

Thursday (20.45 CET) Vardar 1961 – Flensburg